X-ray film cassette

ABSTRACT

A cassette for holding a plurality of X-ray film packs. The film packs are held in overlapping positions so that the edges of adjacent internal films are aligned to make up a large overall continuous area. Lead markings on the cassette cause mating symbols to be imaged on adjacent films; the final photographs can thus be pieced together easily to form the composite larger picture.

United States Patent [191 Bucky 1 51 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] X-RAY FILMCASSETTE [76] Inventor: Peter A. Bucky, 30 East 81st Street,

New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: June 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.1 151,306

[52] US. Cl. ..250/65 R, 250/68 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 41/16 [58] Field ofSearch ..250/68, 66, 65 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,294,610 12/1966 Kollock ..250/68 Primary ExaminerJames W. LawrenceAssistant Examiner-C. E. Church Attorney-Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman[57] ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR3 I973 3,725,703

INVENTOR. PETER A. BUCK) Gfi 42a ATTORNSKS X-RAY FILM CASSETTE Thisinvention relates to X-ray film cassettes, and more particularly tocassettes for containing a number of separate X-ray film packs to allowa large X-ray picture to be made from a number of X-ray films each ofrelatively small size.

It is often desirable to use a single X-ray apparatus for exposing filmby X-rays transmitted through objects of different sizes. For example,bomb disposal squads in many cities have available portable X-raygenerators which are carried to the site of a suspected bomb. A suitcaseunder suspicion can be placed between the X- ray generator and an X-rayplate, the plate being exposed to the X-rays transmitted through thesuitcase. For rapid determination of the existence of a bomb in thesuitcase, it is necessary to quickly develop the film. For this reasonfilm packs marketed by the Polaroid Corporation are often used. In sucha pack, film is contained in a paper package. While light cannotpenetrate through the paper, X-rays can, and for this reason it is noteven necessary to strip the paper from the film prior to exposure. ThePolaroid Land film pack can be developed automatically in less than aminute as is known to those skilled in the art. (Although the inventionis described with reference to Polaroid Land film packs, it is to beunderstood that the invention is applicable to any type of film or filmpack which can be exposed by X-rays.)

Since there are many different size suitcases, if a large size film isalways used in a particular apparatus, in the case of a small suitcasemuch of the film is wasted. It is therefore apparent that considerableeconomies can be realized if the total film area corresponds to the sizeof a particular suitcase under suspicion.

In the case of Polaroid film packs, the ratio of the cost of a large (8inches X 10 inches) pack to the cost of a small (4 inchesX 5 inches)pack is greater than the ratio of the areas. In other words, while thecombined areas of four small filmsequals that of a single larger film,the cost of four small film packs is considerably less than the cost ofone larger film pack. It is therefore apparent that the cost of takingX-ray pictures of relatively large objects increases disproportionatelywith the object size.

It is a general object of my invention to provide an X ray film cassettewhich does not result in the inefficient waste of film area when X-raypictures are taken of objects of different sizes, and which allows X-raypictures to be taken of objects of all sizes at the minimum possiblecost.

Briefly, in accordance with the principles of my invention, an X-rayfilm cassette is provided into which a number of small-size film packscan be inserted. The film packs are maintained in positions adjacent toeach other so that several films can be arranged to form a total filmarea of a size commensurate with the size of the object to bephotographed. Since the overall film area in each case is built up fromindividual films of small areas, it is apparent that the overall filmarea can be controlled in accordance with the size of the object to bephotographed, and that in all cases, since the cheapest possible filmpacks (on a per unit area basis) can be used, great economies can beachieved. (Even greater economies result in the case of Polaroid Landfilm packs because the processing equipment which must be purchased fordeveloping large film packs is much more expensive than the processingequipment which must be purchased to develop small film packs.)

There are two problems, however, which are encountered when it isattempted to use a number of relatively small-size film packs in thismanner. The first problem relates to the fact that each film iscompletely enclosed in a paper package. If the packages are placed inthe cassette with the edges of adjacent packs touching each other, sincethe film area in each pack does not extend all the way to the edges ofthe pack, it is apparent that in the final composite picture there willbe gaps between all adjacent edges of the individual photographs. Thesecond problem concerns the arrangement of the several photographs. Ifmany smallsize film packs are used in a particular instance, after eachof them is developed individually, the resulting photographs must bearranged in the same pattern in which the individual film packs werearranged when they were exposed. In effect, it is necessary for the userof the equipment to put together the pieces of a puzzle in order torealize the final picture.

For this reason, I provide an X-ray film cassette having propertieswhich solve both of these problems. The cassette is arranged so thatadjacent film packs overlap each other. While adjacent film packsoverlap each other, the overlapping is to an extent which lines up theedges of films in adjacent packs. Since the X-rays penetrate the papercovers, the fact that one film pack has its paper cover over a portionof the film area in another film pack does not in any way inhibitexposure of the film which is thus blocked. (In a typical Polaroid Landfilm pack, the pack includes a thin metal edge. But since Xrays canpenetrate through this metal edge, the overlapping presents no problem.)

The cassette includes small markings which block X- rays. In theillustrative embodiment of the invention, these markings are made of inkcontaining lead in it. The markings are lined up with the edges ofadjacent films within the cassette, and a portion of each marking isarranged to lie over each of the two films at the common edge. Each ofthe markings is different from the others. The developed films containthe small markings and they greatly simplify the putting together of thepuzzle. It is only necessary to take pairs of photographs with pairedmarkings and to arrange them so that the markings are next to eachother. In this way, the entire picture can constructed quite rapidly.

It is a feature of my invention to provide an X-ray film cassette whichpositions individual X-ray film packs in such a way that their edgesoverlap but with the edges of adjacent films being aligned.

It is another feature of my invention to provide markings on thecassette which block X-rays and thus appear in the developed pictures,which markings can be matched together so that the individualphotographs can be put together easily in the proper order to form theoverall picture.

Further objects, features and advantages of my inverition will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description inconjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative X-ray film cassette in accordance withthe principles of my invention, and

further shows six film packs contained within the cassette;

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the individual film packs within thecassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the manner in which the film edges within the six filmpacks are aligned within the cassette;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cassette of FIG. 1, shown partially brokenaway;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the line 55 of FIG. 4 with only twofilm packs contained within the cassette; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the line 66 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, cassette 10 contains six slots 10-12 through 10-17for insertion therein of film packs 12 through 17. Although theillustrative cassette holds a maximum of only six packs, largercassettes can be constructed along the same lines. On top of thecassettes are five different lead markings 20 through 24. In taking anX-ray picture of a suitcase, for example, the cassette would be placedin a vertical orientation with the markings 20 through 24 facing theobject. In this way, the X-rays which are transmitted through the objectpass through the cassette except where they are blocked by the leadmarkings. The cassette itself can be made of any material which istransparent to X-rays, such as plastic.

FIG. 2 shows the manner in which the six film packs overlap each other.The film packs are contained in four different planes, as is alsoevidenced from an inspection of FIGS. Sand 6. Film pack 13 is in thelowest level, film packs l5 and 17 are above it, film pack 16 is in thenext to highest level, and the highest level contains film packs 12 and14. The spacing between the various film packs in the vertical directionin the drawing is exaggerated for the sake of clarity. It is apparentthat the slots for containing the individual film packs can be one ontop of the other so that a very compact sandwich of film packs can beachieved.

FIG. 3 shows the manner in which the films 12a through 17a within thefilm packs 12 through 17 are aligned within the cassette. Although thefilm area within each pack does not extend outward to any edge of thepack, within the cassette the edges of adjacent films are aligned witheach other. The film areas 12a through 17a together comprise a largefilm area whose size is six times the size of any individual film area.

FIG. 3 also shows the positions of the markings 20 through 24 relativeto the films within the individual packs. It will be seen that the fivemarkings in FIG. 1 are of different shapes. Four of the markings (20through 23) consist of pairs of symbols, while one of the markings (24)is a single continuous symbol (which is also a pair of markings twosemi-circles). It is apparent that each marking overlies aligned edgesof adjacent films. The markings block X-rays and thus images of themappear on the developed films.

In piecing together the individual final photographs it is onlynecessary to line up each marking with its mate. For example, the twophotographs with small circles (22) can first be placed adjacent to eachother. One of these photographs (160) also contains a small triangle 23and a semi-circle 24. This immediately enables photographs 13a and 17a,each of which contains a mating symbol, to be placed in their properpositions.

Since photograph 13a contains two differently orientated rectangles 20and 21, photographs 12a and 14a can both be quickly placed in theirproper positions. Additional markings could be provided on the cassettefor imaging at the aligned edges of films 12a and 15a, and 14a and 17a.However, even without these markings the composite picture can be puttogether very rapidly. Nor is it necessary to use pairs of identicalmarkings such as 20 through 23, or single symbols such as 24. Any typeof symbols can be used which facilitate matching of adjacentphotographs. For example, numerals or letters can be used.

The sectional view of FIG. 5 shows only two film packs 14 and 16 withinrespective slots 10-14 and 10-16. The figure is designed to show that ifa relatively small size object is to be photographed, less than six filmpacks can be used.

In the event a larger cassette is desired, additional slots can beprovided along the sides of cassette 10 in FIG. 1. However, this wouldonly allow the resulting overall film area to be increased in thevertical direction of FIG. 3. In order to allow the area to be increasedin the horizontal direction of FIG. 3, it is necessary to provide acassette which allows several levels of film packs to be overlappedalong their long dimensions. (Although a Polaroid film pack contains adeveloper solution at the end of the pack with the angled corners, sincethe developer solution is transparent to X-rays it is possible tooverlapthe packs even though the developer solution of one pack overlies thefilm area of another.) Where provision must be made for overlappingseveral levels of film packs in the horizontal direction of FIG. 3, itis difficult to utilize a cassette of the type shown in the drawingbecause it would be necessary to place a film pack in the middle of thecassette. In the cassette of the drawing, each pack is simply pushed allthe way into its respective slot, the ends of the slot being such thatwhen all of the packs are fully pushed inthe film areas abut each other.Were slots to be provided for holding one or more middle levels of filmpacks, it would be difficult to insure that the middle levels wereproperly placed. For this reason, in those cases where the overall filmarea must be increased in the horizontal direction of FIG. 3, it ispreferable to use a cassette which comprises two plates hinged to eachother. A base plate might include internal guides for properly orientingthe film packs. The other plate, which would function as a cover, wouldinclude the inked markings on one of its surfaces. After the film packsare inserted onto the base plate, the cover plate would be closed andthe cassette could then be used. 7

Although the invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merelyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous modifications may 'be made therein and other arrangements maybe devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An X-ray film cassette comprising means for positioning individualX-ray film packs therein with the edges in overlapping relationshipssuch that the films to the sum of the areas of the individual filmpacks, the cassette being transparent to X-rays in the direction inwhich X-rays are directed toward said films and including pairedmarkings which block X-rays such that paired markings are exposed onpairs of continguous films within the cassette.

2. An X-ray film cassette in accordance with claim 1 wherein all of themarkings which are imaged on different pairs of continguous films aredifferent from each other.

3. An X-ray film cassette in accordance with claim 2 wherein within thecassette said film packs are maintained in at least four differentplanes.

4. An X-ray film cassette in accordance with claim 1 wherein within thecassette said film packs are maintained in at least four differentplanes.

5. An X-ray film cassette in accordance with claim 4 wherein saidpositioning means positions said film packs such that the edges of filmsin adjacent film packs are aligned with each other and said markings areimaged along the edges of pairs of contiguous films.

6. An X-ray film cassette in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidpositioning means positions said film packs such that the edges of filmsin adjacent film packs are aligned with each other and said markings areimaged along the edges of pairs of contiguous films.

1. An X-ray film cassette comprising means for positioning individualX-ray film packs therein with the edges in overlapping relationshipssuch that the films within the film packs are lined up relative to eachother to form a continuous large film area substantially equal to thesum of the areas of the individual film packs, the cassette beingtransparent to X-rays in the direction in which X-rays are directedtoward said films and including paired markings which block X-rays suchthat paired markings are exposed on pairs of continguous films withinthe cassette.
 2. An X-ray film cassette in accordance with claim 1wherein all of the markings which are imaged on different pairs ofcontinguous films are different from each other.
 3. An X-ray filmcassette in accordance with claim 2 wherein within the cassette saidfilm packs are maintained in at least four different planes.
 4. An X-rayfilm cassette in accordance with claim 1 wherein within the cassettesaid film packs are maintained in at least four different planes.
 5. AnX-ray film cassette in accordance with claim 4 wherein said positioningmeans positions said film packs such that the edges of films in adjacentfilm packs are aligned with each other and said markings are imagedalong the edges of pairs of contiguous films.
 6. An X-ray film cassettein accordance with claim 2 wherein said positioning means positions saidfilm packs such that the edges of films in adjacent film packs arealigned with each other and said markings are imaged along the edges ofpairs of contiguous films.